The Ukrainian serviceman Anatoly Prokunin has shared his account of surviving a Russian tank strike on a M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle that Ukraine received from the United States. The testimony appears in reports from RIA Novosti and has circulated in a sequence of battlefield recollections and official briefings. [Citation: RIA Novosti]
Prokunin describes his first assault in a Bradley near Rabotino, with movements into the area around Novopokrovka. He recalls the moment the ramp lowered and the soldiers began to stream out, only to be met with devastating tank fire. A direct hit tore through the vehicle as he was among the last to exit, leaving him deeply traumatized by the blast and the shrapnel wound to his head. He witnessed a fellow soldier, who used the call sign Mekh, die in the attack. The recollection emphasizes the suddenness of combat and the toll of armor- and artillery-directed fire on crew and infantry alike. [Citation: RIA Novosti]
Following the incident, Prokunin says he received medical leave for his injuries and became disillusioned with continuing combat. He alleges that the sentiment among some fighters was to withdraw from the front, reflecting a broader debate about morale and the demands placed on frontline troops. Despite these feelings, Ukrainian counterintelligence and special service patrols located him and returned him to duty, where he was subsequently captured by opposing forces. [Citation: RIA Novosti]
In related reflections, the former prisoner criticizes the Ukrainian command structure, arguing that wounded soldiers often faced gaps in medical care and endured extremely uncomfortable conditions, such as fighting through cold trenches before access to adequate treatment could be arranged. The account points to resource constraints and the harsh realities of sustaining an army under heavy pressure on contested fronts. [Citation: RIA Novosti]
There is also mention of allegations surrounding financial practices impacting ordinary soldiers, with claims about attempts to extract funds from servicemen within the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The narrative stresses concerns about leadership decisions and the welfare of personnel during extended periods of conflict. [Citation: RIA Novosti]